Charles the Bald

MedievalEmperorFrankish Empire823 — 877

Grandson of Charlemagne, king of West Francia.

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Quick Facts

Born

823

Died

877

Country

Frankish Empire

Era

Medieval

Occupation

Emperor

Score Overview

Military (10%)10

Political (20%)68

Influence (20%)55

Legacy (20%)47

Leadership (15%)65

Strategy (15%)43

Total Score50.7

Charles the Bald — Complete Timeline

843 AD

Treaty of VerdunPolitical Action

Charles the Bald, along with his brothers Lothair and Louis the German, signed the Treaty of Verdun, dividing the Carolingian Empire into three kingdoms. Charles received West Francia, which became the foundation of modern France.

TreatyDivisionWest FranciaFrance

Impact: global

845 AD

Defense against Viking RaidsWar

Charles faced repeated Viking invasions, including the siege of Paris in 845. He paid large tributes (Danegeld) to buy off attackers, a strategy that temporarily secured peace but drained royal resources and exposed military weakness.

VikingsDanegeldSiege of Paris

Impact: national

875 AD

Coronation as Holy Roman EmperorPolitical Action◆ Major

Pope John VIII crowned Charles the Bald as Holy Roman Emperor, following the death of Louis II. This coronation asserted Charles's claim to imperial authority but was contested by other Carolingian rulers.

CoronationHoly Roman EmpirePapacy

Impact: regionalconstructive